🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $907 in Szolnok versus $2,399 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,380 in Szolnok versus $3,496 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,853 in Szolnok versus $4,592 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Szolnok costs roughly 62% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szolnok is 32% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72Ft 2,320
$17.68€15.22
-56.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.01Ft 12.3K
$70.1€60.3
-41.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.67Ft 2,304
$13.66€11.76
-43.85%
Cappuccino
$1.96Ft 588
$2.74€2.36
-28.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Ft 429
$2.79€2.40
-48.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18Ft 354
$1.96€1.69
-39.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91Ft 574
$4.36€3.76
-56.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25Ft 677
$4.58€3.94
-50.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84Ft 252
$1.29€1.11
-34.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Ft 313
$2.05€1.77
-49.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62Ft 488
$1.98€1.71
-18.18%
Eggs
$2.18Ft 654
$3.39€2.92
-35.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.25Ft 1,879
$18.64€16.05
-66.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.02Ft 1,507
$9.56€8.23
-47.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.81Ft 3,249
$18.83€16.22
-42.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15Ft 345
$2.75€2.37
-58.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Ft 454
$2.47€2.13
-38.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32Ft 397
$2.10€1.80
-37.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19Ft 658
$2.82€2.43
-22.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88Ft 266
$2.02€1.74
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94Ft 282
$1.85€1.59
-49.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Ft 277
$1.51€1.30
-39.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32Ft 96.0
$0.90€0.77
-64.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46Ft 1,940
$7.06€6.08
-8.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.04Ft 1,214
$7.98€6.87
-49.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75Ft 226
$1.43€1.23
-47.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13Ft 339
$2.29€1.97
-50.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00Ft 300
$2.88€2.48
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.18Ft 7,267
$28.39€24.45
-14.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.52Ft 756
$4.38€3.77
-42.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20Ft 361
$2.14€1.84
-43.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.86Ft 4,164
$29.15€25.10
-52.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Ft 499
$1.86€1.61
-10.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KFt 5.4M
$39.0K€33.6K
-54.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KFt 10.2M
$32.7K€28.2K
3.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105Ft 31.6K
$189€163
-44.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.38Ft 7,325
$22.71€19.56
7.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.58Ft 5,282
$36.51€31.43
-51.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8Ft 15.9K
$57.6€49.59
-8.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56Ft 2,573
$21.37€18.40
-59.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.16Ft 2,152
$10.81€9.31
-33.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145Ft 43.5K
$726€625
-80.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,494Ft 1.0M
$15.1K€13.0K
-76.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8Ft 16.5K
$87.7€75.5
-37.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.35Ft 8,220
$36.89€31.77
-25.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.5Ft 18.8K
$104€89.2
-39.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0Ft 20.4K
$116€100
-41.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$319Ft 95.9K
$1,573€1,355
-79.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$276Ft 83.0K
$1,220€1,050
-77.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481Ft 144.6K
$2,711€2,335
-82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383Ft 115.2K
$1,966€1,693
-80.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,137Ft 642.0K
$7,811€6,726
-72.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,628Ft 489.2K
$5,267€4,535
-69.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,153Ft 346.6K
$2,375€2,045
-51.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.26
3.39
202.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szolnok: June 16, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Szolnok and $1,573 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 106% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Szolnok vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $321 per month, with Szolnok cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Szolnok vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szolnok and Barcelona?
Szolnok and Barcelona differ by about 165% in total monthly costs ($907 vs $2,399 including rent). Szolnok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 106% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Szolnok and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Szolnok versus $1,573 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $145 in Szolnok versus $726 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $907 in Szolnok versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Szolnok but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Szolnok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Szolnok or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szolnok and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Szolnok or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Szolnok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.